American History

Below is a PowerPoint presentation I made when teaching Morality to Third Year students. I used Martin Luther King as an example of a Moral Model. I began the lesson by discussing with the class the main characteristics of a moral person. I asked the students if they could identify any examples of a moral person in today’s society. I asked the students if they had a prior knowledge of the issue of civil rights for black people in America.

The students were shown a video clip which outlined the life and works of Martin Luther King and they were asked to answer the following questions:

Who was Martin Luther King?

How were black people treated during the 1950s?

Who was the lady who would not give up her seat on the bus?

What did Martin Luther King do for the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1956?

How was Martin Luther King treated by white people?

Was the Montgomery Bus Boycott successful?

What Bill was passed in 1964?

What happened to Martin Luther King?

The students were then divided into groups and they were asked to engage in a brief discussion of the issue of racism and civil rights in America and the importance of Martin Luther King as a moral model in society. Each group was asked to identify and summarise any comparisons there may be between Martin Luther King and Jesus. Each group was asked to provide examples to explain any of the comparisons that they may have identified.

The lesson ended with showing the students Martin Luther King’s ‘I have a dream’ speech from August 28th, 1963.

For anyone taking on the topic of the American Revolution 1775-1781 in the new year or in the run upto Christmas the powerpoint below is a collection of presentations for seven lessons which I made during my Third Year Teaching Practice placement.

Today, Friday November 22nd 2013 (at noon) marks the 50th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas, Texas.

Below are a number of images which include some of Kennedy’s most famous and inspiring quotes during his time as President of the United States of America. I think these images would be great to use within the classroom when discussing John F. Kennedy’s time in power.

JFK’s remarks upon presenting the NASA Distinguished Service Medal to astronaut L. Gordon Cooper, in the Flower Garden of the White House, May 21, 1963

JFK’s remarks at the opening of a USIA Transmitter in Greenville, N.C., February 8, 1963

President Kennedy’s commencement address at American University, June 10, 1963

President Kennedy’s commencement address at American University, June 10, 1963

JFK’s address at St. Paul’s Church in Frankfurt, Germany, June 25, 1963

Below is a video of BBC Documentary on the assassination of John F. Kennedy which could be used as an excellent resource within a senior History classroom.